Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-03-11
THE DEMOCRATS
Make Independent Nominations for
Justices and Regents.
The Platform.

The democratic state convention to nom
mate two justices Of the supreme court
and two regents OF the university met in
the Detroit opera house, Detroit, on the
lst inst, and was called to order by Chair
man Watson.
Col. Shoemaker OF Jackson was chosen
temporary chairman, and Jas. j. Conklin
OF Saginaw temporary secretary. Com
mittees on credentials, order OF business,
resolutions and conference were appoint
ed, and the convention took "A short recess
TO allow them TO arrange matters entrusted
to them.
When the convention re assembled a re-
port was adopted declaring that the tempo
rary officers be made permanent and that
Fred y. Peck OF Kalamazoo be added as
assistant secretary.
j. Logan Chapman, chairman OF the COM
mittee on resolutions, submitted the fol-
lowing which were adopted without dis
sentng voice:
The democracy OF Michigan in conven-
ton assembled reatlrms the sound demo
cratic principles Of the national platform
OF 1874, and OF the state platform adopted
at Grand Rapids in ls>6
!. We renew the pledges of those plat
forms Of the determination OF the demo
crat party 10 reform the methods and re-
duce the amount Of taxatiou-pledges
which the democratic administration OF
President Cleveland has nobly struggled
TO fulfill against the partisan opposition
OF republican senate
,. We denounce the mercenary pur-
poses and the contributing tendencies Of
the legislative policies OF the republican
party, which attack the rights OF states,
localities and citizens. and We demand a
return TO a strict Interpretation of funda-
mental law which shall restore and secure
local self government and leave all men
equal in the competition OF business.
8. We charge that the republican party
In the nation and state has become sub
servient to monopoies and corporations,
and that its degeneracy is shown by the
corporation law and the corporation de-
cisions which have emanated from the
legislature and courts under its auspices
In this state, and 10y the action OF the re
publican senate at Washington defeating
all efforts TO relieve the pressure of bust
ness in the federal supreme court which
now makes the pursuit Of justice in that
tribunal a hopeless task TO all except the
wealthy who can carry the burden OF pro-
longed litigation.
T. We congratulate the democracy OF
Michigan upon the beneficent reform they
have effected in our supreme court and
invite the electors OF all parties to unite
with Us for the continuance OF that re-
form until the last vestigs Of monopolistic
and corporation tendency is purged from
the court.
Dor for more careful consideration, and
believe that the present restless condition
OF the wage workers is largely due TO the
vicious tendencies of republican courts
and legislatures in this state and nation
during the past % years OF republican
rule. We, therefore. demand OF the legis-
lature tho immediate enactment OF laws
by which just claims for wages may he
promptly and cheaply enforced in the
courts, and that the legislature should
enact laws for the protection OF life and
limb OF employees engaged in dangerous
pursuits, and that the rule OF law which
compels ono employe to take the risk OF
the negligence or Incompetence of his CO.
employees shall lie abolished
8. The democratic party OF Michigan,
which first recognized the claims OF our
soldiers to place on the supreme bench,
rene WIS its pledge of gratitude and indebt-
edness to those who so nobly risked their
lives for the preservation of the Union.
:. Our state university, founded by the
demoo ratc party, Is the pride Of our state
aud the crown of the best educational
system in the world. That the democratic
party. by seventy years of effort, is comit-
ted to its growth and prosperity. We
therefore urge our legislature to foster it
with liDerality, and we pledge the demo-
cratic party OF Michigan 10 increase its
usefulness and rende IL more accessible to
oil citizens.